Stop Obsessing Over Studies

I really wish everybody would stop obsessing over published scientific studies! Do the research yourself by measuring your interventions and the object of what you are trying to affect! That is what science actually is! It says so in the dictionary!

I made a point about muscle fibre types at a recent presentation. Basically, its all a bunch of irrelevant academic bunk with no practical relevance to anything. Academics simply categorised the states/qualities of fibres that they’ve measured. This “fact” does not change any of the math for manipulating body composition. It has no practical relevance to your training decisions. You are basically worse off for having confused yourself with learning it.

As for the studies showing that strength and hypertrophy are 2 entirely separate qualities that exist in isolation of one another, the studies are utterly useless and ridiculous. Most are based on one arm or one leg extensions on Keiser machines, with maximum strength assessed by interview. Strength Coaches should be howling in laughter; not howling in support. Most studies are utterly useless and ridiculous when you actually read them.

People need to stop obsessing over the findings of studies and start applying the scientific method to your own actions!

Measure body composition.

Set a measured goal body composition.

Prescribe a measured diet and strength program.

Follow the program.

Measure the changes in body composition and strength performance

Adjust the program logically to move toward the goal and repeat.

If you aren’t doing this then you are operating in total blind ignorance. If you aren’t doing that then you are not being scientific.

You cannot measure the biochemistry of yourself or your clients. You cannot measure their muscle fibre types. You cannot measure the net effect on body composition of their hormones, nutrient or enzyme levels. So basing your actions on these sorts of unmeasurable biochemical processes is unintelligent, ignorant and deeply unscientific.

So please, I beg you, stop looking to scientific studies for your answers. They aren’t there. Stop listening to shysters selling BS training programs based on manipulating biochemistry according to studies. THINK and MEASURE! You have enough to worry about when you measure body composition and training without needlessly adding complexity to it with a bunch of hypothetical mumbo jumbo made up by some staggeringly stupid people in universities!